ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour and drug taking in Victoria Park has become a concern for local residents, who say that the area is now one to avoid.
Locals have said that groups of people are gathering in the park to smoke cannabis and that they feel unsafe walking through the park.
One concerned resident said, “You can smell the cannabis virtually every evening when I walk home at 5 o’clock. The police must surely know what’s going on. It’s a lovely park but it’s being ruined. At the weekends it’s littered with cans and bottles. It’s very intimidating and it’s a pretty poor show if you can’t feel safe in the main park in the town. It’s getting out of hand.”
Another local mother said, “I’ve noticed quite a change in recent weeks; it’s a lot more rowdy and now I’ve stopped taking the kids up there.”
In response to the reports, Frome Town Council has said that they will continue to work closely with the police, who will be increasing patrols in the area to address these concerns.
Environmental manager for Frome Town Council, Chris Stringer said, “We’ve received a handful of queries and concerns about anti-social behaviour in Victoria Park in the last three years; and drugs have been mentioned a couple of times. These reports tend to coincide with the better weather – and we haven’t had any reports recently.
“Naturally, our rangers are vigilant when they’re busy working in the park – and we have and will continue to work closely with the police if there are problems.
“The police have always been quick to add in extra patrols and to give us their advice when we’ve approached them. Drug taking is illegal and anyone with concerns should contact the police directly.”
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said, “It is not clear whether the issue has actually been reported to us, but we will be increasing patrols in the area to address concerns.
“Anyone with any information about drug dealing/problems should contact us using 101 or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or report it online using the following link www.crimestoppers-uk. org/give-information/give-information-online.”
